Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-08-30
TUESDAY, AUGUST 80, 1887.
The CHIEF of Police.

The CHIEF of Police.
There is again vacancy in the
position of Chief of Police in this city.
When the clique now running the
police office came into power they
made loud cry against those who in
times past had filed this very respon-
sible position. Under the new regime
all was to he as lovely as if the millen-
MUM had come in very truth and in
full force. To bring about this most
desirable result one, Mccarthy was
put at the head of the police force.
What an utter failurel He was an
imbecile; ne is credited with having
been an opium eater. All who knew
him believe him to have been semi
insane, if not worse. Incompetency
ran a race with crookedness in the
force, and they ran neck and neck.
To this day no man will say which
element passed under the wire first.
Mccarthy had to go.
The vacancy was filled by one
who had been ON the force for
some time. He was supposed to
have good advisers; and he
is generally acknowledged to be a
fairly honest man. In some way he
gave offence to certain parties who are
well known as wishing and aiming to
run the police force. Mr.. Davis went
out on charges made by several mem
bers OF his own force, and the air was
full of all sorts of alleged crookedness
on the part of good many men who
wore the star of municipal peace
officer.
Then came the present incumbent
to the Office. He came to the duties
of the position with an excellent name
ss a man. 1t is known that many OF
Mr.. SINNERS well-wishers predicted
that he could not stay. He had no
experience in such position, and it
is hard one to fill under any circum-
stances; impossible to fill by one man
out Of thousand who has not served
= pretty long novitiate in some such
place. As Chief Skinner retires
from his place, there is not
man who knows anything
Of the facts, who will say that he does
not go out honest, clean of any parti-
cipation in any corruption connected
with the office or existing among the
force-if any does exist. The reason
for his resignation may be summed
mp in two words-lack OF experience.
Let all that pass.
But the place is to be filed by the
City Council. This body yesterday
postponed action on the matter for
week. This is well. No pre-
cipitate action should be taken
in this matter. 1t is one of
very grave moment to the city. 1t
rises far above ward politics, and men
Of influence around the polls on cleo
tion day. The city is now place OF
60, 900 people. The population is in
creasing at break-neck pace. We
get here all sorts of elements, and to
govern the city as it should be gov
erned; to make life, person and pro-
Perty safe, a thoroughly equipped po-
lice force is of prime importance.
There is no proposition before the peo-
pie OF more moment, there are few of
10 much moment, as this now con-
fronting the City Council. The Chief
is, and always is, the index of the use
fulness OF the force under him. A po-
lice force such as Los Angeles needs is
q miniature army. As such it must
have discipline and direction; and
these must emanate from the head
The Chief must exercise the necessary
discipline, and he must furnish the
desired guidance and direction to the
men under him, A successful Chic
Of Police must be a man OF experience
"a man capable of taking command
Of body Of men. He needs persona
character and personal courage, anc
much tact as we'll as experience. In
sG1ecting such a man the Council viii
do we'll to see that they are not led
they are probably too much men to b.
driven by any clique which may de
velop itself in a programme t.
net control of the office. A
man should be selected who will
mot have to resign at the end OF 81,
months. A man might be chosen
Who would hold his seat term after
tsrm whatever the complexion OF the
Council may be.
Then when he is chosen, he should
- to it that he is Chief. No man,
"a ~ of mon should control him. He
unnls 70 have self-resolution and
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